Step for bathtubs



` '1,641,514 sept. `es, 1927. A. WIEBMER l STEP FQR BATHTUBS' Filed April l2, 1927 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

nururiazn STATES PATENT QO-FF'IC'E..kv

ANTON WIEBMER, OF yQUINCY, ILLINOIS.

STEP FOR BA'rHTUBs.

Application-filed April 12, 1927.

lThe p'resent'invention relates to an attachment `for bath tubs andfhas for itsprincipal object to provide al step construction `which is deta'chably associatedlwiththe side of the bathtub in order to permit a person to enter or leavethe tub. in a safe manner.

One of the important objects 'of the present invention is to provide a step construction for bath tubswhich includes the l0 provision of a pair of interconnected step members, one ofwhich is adapted ffor disposition within the inside'oi the tub2 and the other on the outside'of the tub, suitable hand grips vbeing associated with the step membersin order that'the person using the tub may enter or leave the same without any` danger of slipping and sustaining injury.

A still further object is to provide a kdevice oit` the above mentioned character wherein the step which is adapted for disposition within the inside of the tub may be swung upwardly out of the'tub in orderthat the tub can be properly used for bathing pur- 'posesw'vithout any interferencel of the inner step. I

ii still. further object is to provide/a step construction for bath tubs whichis simple in construction, ineiipensive,- strong and durable and further well adapted to the purposes ioi which it is designed.

@ther objects and ladvantages willbecome apparent yduring the course of' the following description. l

.ln the accompanying drawings forming a part ot thisapplicationyand in which'lile numerals indicate like parts throughout the same: f

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device embodying my invention showing the same attached to the side of a'bath tub.

Figure 2 is a sideelevation thereof, the tub beingl shown in section.

' Figure 3 is a top plan View, the vertical standard or rod of 'one of the handgrips being shown in section y Figure l isa view similar to Figure 2, showing the inner `step member swung upwardly to an inoperative position.

`Figure 5 is a detail of the'locking means, and. n Y n yFiguie is a detail'of one ofthe ladjustable feet,

1n the drawings, wherein for thepurpose of illustration is shown 'the preferred embodiment oinmy'inventioii,"tlie numeral 1 -designates"lgenerallya l frame; the 'same 'coin- Serial No. 183,136.

2 and 3, the upper ends of which are curved to provide hooks 4 for engagement over the rim portion B ot the bath tub A inthe manner clearly shown in the drawings. The

Aprising the spaced vertically disposed "arms i rlhe trame 1 Jfurther includes the provi-'w' sion of a pair of horizontally disposed-step supporting members 6 and 7 respectively, which are also formed of tubular material.

The inner or rear ends of these horizontally..

disposed members 6 and 7 are bent upwardly as indicated at 8 and are bifurcated toreceive'the flattened lower ends 45 'of therespective vertically eXtending'arms'Q and,

and a pivot pin 9 extends therethrough,J whereby the step supporting members are pivotally connected to the lower ends of the vertically disposed arms in a manner more clearly shown in Figures 1 and 4 Of-'the drawings.

A step 10 extends across the upper por-y tions oip the horizontally disposed members 6 and 7, and the ends oi thisstep are sel cured to the respective supporting members by' any appropriate `fastening means'fsuch as is shown at 11. The step may be constructed of metal or wood, and is preferably covered with a rubber mat on its 'upper tace'in order to prevent any slippage when a person Steps upon'the step. y

A pair of vertically extending leg members 12v and 13, respectively. also v`formed of tubular material having'their upper ends iiattened and pivotally secured'in the loifurcated downwardly bent "forward, ends 14 of the step supporting members v6. and 7 re! spectively, the pivots beingillustra-ted at 15. A floor engaging t'oot 16 has its shank 17 slidably disposed in the lower open'end of each of the leg members and a set screw 18is threaded through a suitable opening provid` Abe adjusted to any desired"heigjit.vr

The. frame 1 isfadapted forfdisposit-ionf on the outside of the bath tub A. Adapted for disposition within the inside of the tub is the frame designated generally by the numeral 19 and the same comprises a pair ol vertically disposed arms 20 and 21, respectively, which are pivotally secured at their upper ends to the tree end portions ot the downwardly turned hooks 4 oit the arnis 2 and 3, respectively. The pivotal connection between the upper ends oi1V these arms and the free ends of the hooks is designated `general- `ly at22. When the arms 2O and 2l ot the frame 19 are disposed in a true vertical position, they will be located adjacent tl e inner side of the bath tub A in the manner vision 'of a Apair ot step supporting members 23 which have their inner ends disposed upwardly and pivotally secured Vto the lower` ends oi' the respective arms 20 and 2l as at '24. A step 25 extends across the upper fares of the horizontally dispose-d member and the securing means for `the .step is shown at 26. -The outer ends ot the horizontally disposed members 23 are bent downwerdlflfY and pivotally secured at their upper ends to the vdownwardly disposed outer ends ot the step supporting members 23 are the leg members 2 7. The pivotal connection bein designate-:l

These leg members 27 are also `form-ed et -tubular material as are the remaining portions of the frame 19 and slidably arranged within the lower ends ot the leg members 27 are the shanks 29 ot the 'Feet 30. il. set screw which is pivotally secured at one end to th .31 -is associated with the lower end ot each leg member 27 ,tor cooperation with the re-y spective shank 29 in adjustably securin each voli the feet 3() with respect to the lower end of the respective leg members..

' When the leg members 27 and the remainder oi the trame 19 are disposed within the bath tub A, the feet 30 will. engage the bottom ot the tub in .aV-manner clearly shown in Figure 2.

Forthe purpose ot rigidly securingl the attachment to the bath tub that the saine will not be free to move laterally. l2 provide a suitable locking means. the construction oit which will now be speciiicallv described.

This locking means includes a lever 32 gagement with Ythe bath tub, l provide the rod 35 which extends downwardly through the hook 4 formed on the upper end ot the,

arm 2. The lower end oit this rod is threaded as illustrated at 36, while the upper end erate with the threaded nut 38 in swinging the lever 32 upwardly whereby the dog 34 vmay be brought into locked engagement with the outer side oit the tub. Obviously, by rotating the knob 37 in the reverse direct-ion, the lever 32 will be lowered and the dog 34 will be disengaged from the outside of the tub, thus permitting the device to be readily removed :from engagement over the rim B ot the bath tub A.

rlhe hook termed on the upper end of the arm 2 of the trame 1 is formed with a socket 39 into which extends the shank or free end portion oit a suitable hand hold or grip 40 in the manner clearly disclosed in Figures 2 and 3. A set screw 41 is threaded through the side of the socket and engages' the shank' or free end portion of the hand hold or grip 40 tor detachably securing the same in position.

rlhe other hook 4 which is associated'with the upper end of the arm 3 is also formed vithl a socket indicated at 42 yfor receiving the lower end of the vertically extending rod 437 the upper end of which is bent to form a horizontally disposed handle 44, and which handle extends outwardly of the bathY tub at one side ot the frame 1. A set screw 45 is lthreaded into the side of the socket 42 for engagement with the lower end of the rod 43 for securing the same in possition in the socket. o Y

ln fuse, the attachment is arrangedvin the manner shown in Figure 2 whereby the hooks 4 are disposed over the rim B of the bath tub A .andthe trame 1 is located on t-he out-side ot the bath tub.y vwhile the frame 19 is. disposed on the inside thereof and the steps 10 and 25 are arranged in a horizontal position. The-'dog34 will lock the attachment in rigidengagement with the bath tub. ln order to prevent marring of the enameled surface of the tub, the portions ot the device which engage the tubV may be covered with rubber or any other protecting medium.

A person desiring to use the tub will grasp the handle. 44 and step upon the outer step 10 and then upon the inner sten 25 thus permittingthe person to enter the tub in a sate manner. The inner trame 19 is then swung upwardly outv ot the tub to the position shown in Figure 4 so that the frame 19 and the inner step carried thereby will not intertere with the proper use of the tub.

ln leaving the tub` `the 'frame 19 is swung vinwardly to the position shown in Figure 2 and the bather grasps the handle 40 and steps upon the step 25` and then over the outer side of the tub onto the outer step l0 from Which aV person can readily and easily step onto the floor.

The provision of a step structure of the above mentioned character will be of great assistance to a person in entering or leaving a bath tub, and furthermore vvill prevent the person from sustaining any injury While in the act of entering or leaving the tub. The' simplicity of my device enables the saine tol be readily and easily attached or detached from a bath tub, and furthermore may be manufactured at a very low cost and Wilt be also strong and durable and at all times positive and etlicient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

lVhile I have shown the preferred embodiment oit my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the in vention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim iszl. In an attachment 'for bath tubs, a pair of interconnecting step members adapted for disposition on the yinside and outside of a bath tub, respectively. l

2. In an attachment lor bath tubs, a pair of intereonnectingstep members adapted tor disposition on the 'inside and outside o a `bath tub respectively, the inner step member beingl adapted. lttor vertical swinging movement whereby the same may be disposed upwardly out of the bath tub. y

3. In an attachment tor bath tubs, a pair of interconnecting step members adapted tor disposition on tlievinside and outside of a bath tub respectively, andimeans for rigidly.

securing the attachment to a bath tub.

4;. In an attachment for bath tubs, an outer frame adapted for disposition on the outside of the bath tub, hooks formed on said frame and adapted for disposition over the rim of the bath tub, a step supported on said frame, floor engaging legs associated with the iframe, and means for rigidly securing the frame to the bath tub.

5. In an attachment for bath tubs, an outer trame adapted for disposition on the outside of the bath tub, hooks formed on said iframe and adapted foi disposition over the rim oi the bath tub, a step supported on said frame, floor engaging legs associated With the frame, an additional frame operatively connected to the hooks of the iirst mentioned traine, a step carried by the additional trame, said additional traine adapted for disposition entirely Within the bath tub When in one position, and substantially out of the bath tub when disposed in another position.

6. In an attachment for bath tubs, an outer frame adapted for disposition on the outside ot the bath tub, hooks `formed on said 'trame and adapted 'for disposition over the rim of the bath tub, a step supported on said frame, floor engaging legs associated with thefframe, an additional frame operatively connected to the hooks of the iirst mentioned frame, a step carried by the additional frame, said additional frame adapted for disposition entirely Withing the bath tub Awhen in one position, and substantially out ci' the bath tub when disposed in another position, and hand holds carried by the irst mentioned frame.

'gIn an attachment for bath tubs, an outer trame adapted for disposition on the outside oi the bath tub, hooks formed on said frame and adapted for disposition over the rim of the bath tub, a step supported on said trarne, 'floor engaging legs associated With the frame, an additional frame operatively connected to the hooks of the first mentioned frame, a step carried by the additional frame, said additional frame adapted 'lfor disposition entirely Within the bath tub When in one position, and substantially out oi the bath tub'vvhen disposed in another position, and means for rigidly securing the outer 'frame to the bath tub.

8. In an attachment for bath tubs, an outer frame adapted for disposition on the outside oi' the bath tub, hooks formed on said frame and adapted for disposition over the rim of the bath tub, a step supported on said frame, floor engaging legs associated With lthe trame, means for rigidly securing the frame to the bath tub, said mea-ns comprising a pivoted dog carried by the frame, and manually adjustable means for moving the dog into locking engagement With the outer side of the bath tub.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

ANTON VVIEBMER.. 

